Chapter 7
The maid had removed her white apron, folding it neatly over her lap. Her black dress was still creased, but her delicate features radiated a fierce, protective warmth. As Sebastian entered, Ivy immediately stood up, smoothing her skirt, her bright, expressive eyes darting to his face to read the outcome of the confrontation downstairs.
"Daddy!" Milo cried, jumping out of the bed and running across the room.
Sebastian dropped to one knee, catching his son perfectly as the boy threw his small arms around his broad shoulders. He buried his face in Milo's hair, closing his eyes tightly, inhaling the innocent scent of his child amidst a world of violence.
"I'm here, sweetheart. I'm right here," Sebastian murmured, his deep voice thick with emotion.
"Are you going to let Auntie Serena come back, Daddy?" Milo whispered, his voice trembling with the residual tension of the evening's chaos.
"Never," Sebastian said fiercely, pulling back to look directly into his son's eyes. "You are my entire world, Milo. No one will ever hurt you or the people you love. The woman who lied to us is gone. She will never, ever step foot in this house again."
Milo sniffled, nodding slowly as he accepted his father's absolute certainty. "Ivy said you wouldn't let the bad lady hurt us."
Sebastian looked up. Ivy was standing quietly by the armchair, her hands clasped together, her graceful posture a testament to her quiet strength. She had risked her life to confront Serena, and in doing so, had exposed a monster operating within his own walls.
"Ivy is very smart," Sebastian said softly, keeping his dark eyes locked on the beautiful maid. "And incredibly brave."
Sebastian stood up, gently lifting Milo and placing him back onto the center of the massive bed. He pulled the heavy duvet up to his son’s chin, pressing a lingering, fiercely protective kiss to the boy's forehead.
"Try to sleep, Milo," Sebastian said, his deep voice a soothing rumble. "I will be right outside the door, and my guards are watching the hallway. Nothing can get to you."
Once Milo’s eyes began to droop with exhaustion, Sebastian gestured for Ivy to follow him toward the adjacent private sitting room. They stepped through the archway, the heavy silk drapes muffling the sounds of the mansion. The natural, cinematic lighting of the sitting room highlighted the sheer exhaustion in Ivy's delicate features. She kept her head slightly bowed, maintaining the submissive posture expected of a maid, but Sebastian stepped directly into her line of sight, forcing her to look up.
"Why didn't you come to me sooner, Ivy?" Sebastian asked, his voice a low, controlled murmur. "When you saw them together, why didn't you alert the guards?"
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Ivy met his gaze, her expressive eyes shining with unshed tears. "Because I know what the Rowe alliance means to your syndicate, Mr. Blackwell. If I screamed, and I was wrong... I didn't want to be the reason you went to war."
"You risked your life," Sebastian stated, his jaw tightening. "Serena is ruthless. She would not have hesitated to silence you permanently."
